Chapter 19

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Will's phone rang too early the next day, waking all three of them up and making them groan. Since she knew Will wasn't going to answer his phone due to the time, Saskia yawned and leaned over Will to reach to grab the phone. She blinked as she turned it on, watching as Jack's name turned up. She handed Will his phone and laid back down to feel the warmth of their arms.

"It's Jack," Saskia muttered, squishing her face into the pillow to avert her gaze from the bright screen.

Will used his free arm to look at the phone from his lying position with a groan, moving until he sat up and made Saskia yawn and lean into Hannibal more as he removed his warm body from her grasps.

Will answered the call. "It's before seven on a saturday, Jack… I know I'm always on call but it's a Saturday and it's cold and the sun isn't even up… Sure, give me an hour and a half… And Hannibal? Okay." He ended the call before laying down again, getting back into the warmth of the two other bodies.

Hannibal was laying on his back as Saskia half leaned on him and half on her front in between both men. Will turned until he was leaning on his side to face both of them, watching Hannibal as his hand was on one of Saskia's hips and drawing tiny designs in the skin with his finger.

"What did Jack need, Will?" Hannibal inquired as Saskia also groaned when she heard her own phone sound, she looked to her smartwatch before sighing. It said that she had a message and needed to reply to it.

"Countess, bring me my phone please!" Saskia lifted her head from the pillow as she called out before slumping again. "What did Jack say about needing you two?"

"Freddie's been identified by her dental records," Will stared off into the distance as he felt Saskia place her arm so it draped over his waist, drawing little circles into his bare chest as she yawned once again. "He wants to speak to Hannibal and I about what's going to happen next. There will be a funeral I'd think. Will you be attending?"

"Alana will probably ask me why I didn't attend if I didn't go," Saskia scowled as she got another message. "Really not my problem at the moment. I need to sort out the book publishing date now."

Countess came into the room, the phone in her mouth as she jumped onto the bed before dropping the phone onto the small of Saskia's back, exactly where she couldn't reach because of the poison she was in.

Hannibal passed her the phone. "It's been approved?"

"Thanks. Got the email last week," Saskia looked through her emails for the day, nothing of importance for now. As Hannibal got out of the bed, she shifted to lay on her back as Countess laid on one of her legs.

Hannibal nodded and walked over to the wardrobe to pull the doors open. He whistled, creating a stampede of the large pack of dogs barging into the bedroom. Will groaned as the dogs suddenly leapt onto the bed but Saskia just laughed as they were covered in slobber and icy noses.

Saskia tried to get out of the bed, phone in hand as the dogs refused to let her go and made her tumble onto the ground and be covered in cold noses again. The dogs snickered as they watched her huff before getting up, pushing them away with a laugh.

"Margot asked if I'm free for horseback riding at noon," Saskia said after giving each of the dogs good ear rubs and belly scratches. "She said I can bring the dogs with me for a run at the Verger place."

"Have you been cleared for vigorous exercise?" Hannibal asked, looking back from his position at the wardrobe as he chose his suit for the day.

"Docs cleared me a week ago," Saskia said, shifting her weight onto another foot before leaving the room to get dressed in her own.

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Leaving her gun at home, Saskia piled all of the dogs into the Mercede Benz G class she had imported from her Lithuanian home. It had plenty of room for all of the dogs and she didn't really care if this car got dirty compared to her range rover.

Having known it was going to be cold, Saskia had dressed in warm grey riding breeches with winter socks in the black boots she wore. Black turtleneck kept the bite of the cold away as she wore a navy riding jacket over it.

The horse that Margot had readied for Saskia was a beautiful piebald stallion. To a certain amount of irony, he was an unruly horse that didn't like anyone but Margot going near him, and he was named Baron.

The trail was cold and refreshing. The snow had settled a while ago, leaving small patches of slush where the path was but otherwise the snow was untouched. The dogs and horses left footprints in the snow.

"I read somewhere that you're not supposed to ride when you're pregnant?"

"The doctors said as long as I am only riding them down the paths, I'll be fine until I'm a little further along," Margot nodded, turning her head to look at Saskia as the other woman just looked ahead to watch the dogs carefully. "I feel bad about talking of my pregnancy when…"

"It's no problem," Saskia shook her head, letting a reassuring smile onto her lips. "It happened and I'm over it. I never wanted children. I rather not push a melon out."

"Don't remind me of that," Margot laughed. "I'm not looking forward to that part of motherhood. I never actually thought I would be a mother. Liking women was one of the reasons my father almost disowned me."

"Let's just say coming out to a semi homophobi mother is not fun,"

"What did you come out as?"

"Pansexual,"

"So you're not limited to the gender, sex, or identity of your partners?"

"If I like them, I like them,"

Margot hummed and looked ahead. "Fair enough."

"Say," Saskia slowed the horse as the dogs got a little too close to Baron. "When do you find out the gender? Soon, isn't it?"

"I'm only thirteen weeks in now," Margot placed her hand on the small bump hidden by her clothes. "I'm getting the next ultrasound at sixteen weeks, so a couple weeks left before I find out the gender and see if my plan will work."

"And the donor?"

"A very much willing one night stand, I assure you,"

Saskia nodded. "So there won't be anyone trying to claim parental guardianship. Your father's will was very insistent in the fact it had to be a male heir that inherited the fortune. If you were to have a son, you'd be able to kill Mason off quite quickly, a daughter would be… unwelcome at this moment of time."

"How is your law degree coming along?" Margot asked, turning her head to look at Saskia on the other horse.

"I'm just waiting for the results on my exam now," She watched the dogs play, taking a deep breath of icy cold air into her lungs, loving the fresh crisp air. "I did pretty well but I'd like to know the official results."

"I was surprised to think you did contract law,"

"Being a writer means I am very picky on the wording of everything and every detail. Contracts just seemed the best way for me to incorporate my skills,"

Margot agreed.

They carried on with the horse ride for an hour or so more, just talking about this and that. Getting back to the Verger mansion, Margot already had lunch ready. An indian chinese dumpling dish with a hot and sour soup in a blue decorative bowl.

It didn't take long for Mason to find them eating on one of the terraces that faced the beautiful scenery.

"Margot, Saskia!" He greeted with a huge grin as he came outside to give his sister a kiss on the cheek and, to her displeasure, gave Saskia a very polite peck on the cheek. As soon as he turned, Saskia made a disgusted face and wiped the area. Margot smiled and tried to hide her amusement as Mason looked to her.

"Afternoon," Saskia said politely.

"Afternoon," He said back and took a seat across from them at the four chaired table they ate at. "Say, Saskia, are you wearing makeup at the moment? Because you look beautiful at the moment and I don't know what it is about you that lures me in."

She stopped eating, wanting to grimace but refused to at his adoring look. She just smiled and shook her head.

"Besides a bit of lip balm, I'm not wearing makeup," Saskia placed her utensils down. "It is probably my Eastern European heritage. We're known for beautiful women and good alcohol."

She hated being civil sometimes, especially when people began to look at you like you were a piece of meat instead of a human being. The way he looked over his glasses made her put a thick mask of false demureness that he quite easily ate up, resulting in a sloppy smile accenting his lips. That annoyed her even more.

"I would have to agree with that," He said from his side of the table, leaning into the back of his chair with carelessness.

Margot paused to stare at him. "Mason, we're trying to have lunch."

"I see that, dear Margot," He smiled. "I just wanted to see if I could join you lovely ladies."

Countess began to whine and groan, making Hades, and Winston, and Spike do the same. Saskia was finally glad to say that she was happy that the dogs were very picky about being fed a certain time.

"You could," Saskia checked her watch and smiled apologetically. "But it seems like I have to leave. The dogs like to be eating by two in the afternoon, at least the larger ones. They will become unruly soon if they are not fed."

"I'll show you out then," Mason jumped to his feet as Saskia also got up. "It's only polite that the man of the house shows the guests out when the lady is still feasting."

Saskia had a snark rebuttal of what man? I only see a little piggy. But kept it at the tip of her tongue instead of letting it out.

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Hannibal and Will were home by noon and knew when Saskia's car pulled up. They both stood in the foyer, waiting for her to let the dogs out before she slammed the door of her car closed. They let the dogs into the house, making sure each of them wiped their feet.

"What happened?" Will asked.

"Remind me to burn this top." Saskia mumbled, turning as Hannibal gestured that he would help take her coat.

Hannibal hooked the coat in the side closet. The musty smell of dirt and pigs laced the coat, and parts of Saskia's skin. He turned back to her, seeing her struggle with taking off riding jacket and her increasing frustrations with it.

"What's upset you?"

"He tried to fucking snog me!" Her voice raised with outrage at the memory, turning with a thicker twang of a British accent as her anger rose.

Will's eyebrows furrowed. "Saskia, who?"

"That bastard brother of Margot's." She turned to look at them both with a disgusted pout as she wiped a hand down her neck. "He tried to snog me like I was a piece of meat. When I turned my head, he went to my neck. And when I got out of the door, he grabbed my ass with that disgusting little leer of his. I swear if Margot isn't having a son, I'm going to kill Mason anyway!"

She ignored the flash of dark anger in both men's eyes, stating that she was going for a shower.

The water was boiling hot but she welcomed the slight burn as she scrubbed her skin. She felt each twitch of her muscles as they tried to forget his touch. Try as she might, she couldn't forget it.

His hands were very much grabby and clasped around her hip and bicep with an uneasy grip that made her beast want to lash out. His touch was wrong, unwelcome. It disgusted her to her core, rattling the beast's already brittle reistants. His touch was the wrong one, it was nothing like theirs and so she hated it instantly. She knew it wasn't time so she had to accept it but she wished she didn't have to.

Hannibal stood by the open bathroom door, watching as Saskia used her hands to try and get rid of Mason's unwelcomed scent and feel. He knew her unscented products wouldn't work well, so Hannibal brought some of his so she could regain some sense of herself. She took the gratefully, the scent of her anxiety and of the other man lessened as she rubbed the new soap in.

Saskia didn't care that she was nude in front of him, the shower curtain covered her mostly. He had knocked before he even thought of coming into the bathroom, even if the door was left open.

She washed the new soap off. "Is it gone yet?"

He took a second to answer, inhaling but nodding with a soft look. "You no longer smell of dirt and pig, only of my body wash now."

"Thank fuck," Saskia said in relief, turning the water off. "Can you pass me my dressing gown? I forgot it on the bed on my haste to get him off of me."

He went to get it, leaving with another small nod as Saskia examined his movements as he walked. He really did have a nice backside.

Instead of grabbing the black dressing gown he held out for her, Saskia grabbed his wrist and pulled him into the shower with her. Easily silencing his protests with hot kisses all up and down his jaw and neck, Saskia distracted him by running her hand through his hair as he ran a hand down her exposed back. One of her hands held her dressing gown, while the other migrated to the dial and suddenly turned the water on and to icy cold.

She bolted from the bathroom, slamming the door shut as she ran downstairs and quickly tucked the robe closed around her nude form. She giggled and laughed as she ran, knowing Hannibal was stalking behind her every step.

With each step, Hannibal came closer to grabbing her, only missing by mere hair lengths because Saskia knew she could tease him. Slowly down the smallest degree, Saskia let him feel like he was going to win before increasing her speed and jumping to the side before he could touch her.

Will appeared from the kitchen, hearing all of the running and footsteps. "Why are you— Oh, a game of cat and mouse. What did the mouse do to warrant the game?"

"The little mouse pulled the cat into the shower with promises and instead delivered a cold shower." Hannibal scowled as he saw Saskia shrink behind Will with a mischievous grin.

"The mouse plans to deliver the promises after a chase, to see if the rewards are due." She bared her teeth in a grin.

Will shook his head.

"Can you atleast go dry off before running around? One of you, and I mean Saskia, will fall and then the dogs will turn you into a dog pile." When Will saw Saskia was about to bolt, he grabbed her by one of her arms before she could. His lip curled as he watched her pout, her eyes flickering to the side to find the best way out of the room. Will turned his head to Hannibal, his eyes flickering to him before back to Saskia as she laid out a plan in her head. "You best bring her upstairs and dry her yourself. She's going to do a runner to continue the chase."

"What? No. Don't even think abo—AHH!" Hannibal grabbed both of her wrists into one hand and quickly lifted her into a fireman carry. One hand held both of her wrists to one side of his body while his other arm kept her from kicking him in retaliation. "Not a sack of potatoes! Will, stop laughing and tell him to put me down! I hate both of you."

"I wouldn't be forced to carry you like a barbarian if you made the correct decisions in the matter." Hannibal paused at the stairs. "Will, are you joining us?"

"I'm not in the mood," Will shook his head. "I'll stay with the dogs and get some of the stupid paperwork finished. Have fun."

"We will."

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He sat on the end of the bed, Saskia kneeling between his thighs as she slowly unbuttoned his shirt and trailed kisses down his chest. She didn't hesitate to stand up and shove him at the shoulders until he laid on the bed with her straddling his hips. Dragging her long nails against his chest, he arched under her and this made her smile.

With the heat in Hannibal's eyes, it reminded her of the way Will looked at her after she had killed Yasha. The dark fire of desire just made her lick her lips as she leaned forward to encase his lips in a kiss. With a twist, Saskia was the one with her back to the bed with her legs on either side of Hannibal's thighs as he brought her face up to his.

Hannibal unbuttoned his trousers before shaking them off along with his shirt, leaving him in only dark boxer briefs. Saskia shrugged the robe off with Hannibal's help, chucking all of that to the side as she was naked on the bed and he was in underwear that didn't hide the growing erection.

As Hannibal leaned down onto her, his chest pressed onto hers and he gently bit her lip every time she opened it before sealing it with another leg quivering kiss, Saskia reached for the bondage cuffs in the side table.

She grinned and showed the thick leather handcuffs to him. "So who's in charge this time?"

"You still smell faintly of Mason Verger," Hannibal frowned as he trailed open kisses on her collarbone. "I'd rather you smell of Will and I but he isn't in the mood tonight, so making you smell of me will suffice."

"Guess I'm getting handcuffed unless you want to have a game of wrestle before so,"

"I already won the chase," Hannibal said, swallowing each of her next words as he decided on something else. "How do you feel about rope instead of the handcuffs?"

"Um, sure," Saskia nodded and Hannibal climbed off of the bed.

She hummed to herself as she watched Hannibal strut over to the wardrobe to bring out a small duffle bag. He brought it over to bed before opening it. Saskia sat up from her lying position, now sitting cross legged as she watched him open it to reveal two bundles of different coloured rope, and several other things that could be used during sex.

"Feel," Hannibal passed both over to her, letting her hold one in each hand. "Maroon or black? Which feels better to you?"

"Maroon," Saskia said after a moment as Hannibal took both from her and put the black rope away.

"Arms together or spread?"

"You choose,"

"Arms spread then," Even as he was tying her wrists to the bed posts, he made sure to keep her enticed by gently trailing his hands down her sides and with heated kisses. "Try tugging at them. Secure?"

"Yeah," She breathed out.

"My safe word is stag, and what is yours?"

"Fox," She tugged at the ropes, feeling the pinch at her wrists and released. "Are we going with the stop light system too?"

"Yes, and they are?"

"Green for go, yellow for pause, red for stop and discuss. Safe word for complete stop and cut loose," Saskia grinned as Hannibal got back onto the bed and settled himself so he leaned over her.

"Colour?"

"Green."

"Good."

And that was the last thing either of them said for the next hour or so.

Saskia loved dominating and being dominated during sex, it was a fight of wills between her and her partners and she won either way. By knowing that your partner was willing to give you what you knew you wanted without words, it made her happy. It was rare to find someone like that and she found two very willing participants at various times.

Their touch was the only ones she welcomed.

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Hannibal gently kneaded the antibacterial lotion into both of Saskia's wrists, they were slightly pink from where the rope had been pulled and tugged at. He sat in the kitchen with Saskia at the island as Will began to prepare a simple meal. Saskia yawned as Hannibal finished, making sure her wrists would heal before leaving a kiss on both of her knuckles and letting her finish the cup of English tea Will prepared for her.

"Is she still in a drop?" Will asked, referring to what happened to some people after an insense session of sex. The amount of adrenaline released would leave a person in a slump until they could rebalance themselves by themselves or with their partners.

"Perhaps," Hannibal said as he kept an eye on her as he helped Will now. "We spent some time cuddling afterwards, and we both dropped then."

"The tea should help her,"

"She should be back to normal within an hour or so, that what it took last time,"

Saskia yawned again. "She can hear you both, and she isn't in a drop anymore. The tea helped, thank you. I just wanna cuddle again." She put her head on her arm, only getting up from the seat when she wanted to. "I'm gonna go cuddle with the dogs. Get me when dinner's ready, please."

"Of course," Will nodded.

"Thank you."

An hour later, Saskia was found on the floor before the fireplace. Within the pack of dogs, she curled up in the middle and used Hades as a pillow. Countess was curled around Saskia's back and used the woman's legs as a headrest. Winston was under the weighted blanket she brought with her, cuddling up to her chest as Spike laid half on Hades and half on Saskia's back. The rest of the dogs were surrounding her, all in different states of sleep as Saskia kept her gaze on the burning fire.

Unlike when Mason touched her shoulder, she didn't even flinch when both of them crouched down to gently nudge her.

Their touches were soft, gently, with the warmth that they all shared.

She liked them.

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